Strawberries with Cream Part VI

Social engineering was just a theoretical term for Anjor until recently. With 3 days left for him to leave the country, he had gained practical experience. He had managed to engineer a gathering of the social circle that he shared with Preeti. It had taken many phone calls, a lot of convincing and shifting schedules. He had been more successful than he hoped – although it sounded more like an old ladies' gathering, the plan was to have a potluck at Preeti’s place. He had insisted on bringing the dessert.

Anjor picks up the phone and dials the number on the business card that reads “Samit Mishra”.

“Samit Mishra here.”

“Hi, this is Anjor, I was the person who visited the other day asking about your famous strawberry dessert.”

“Yes I remember please go ahead. How was the sample?”

“It was great actually, and I would like to place a larger order for tomorrow if that is possible”

“How large? I’ll see what I can do.”

“I would like to pick up a strawberry shortcake tomorrow afternoon around 3 for an important party”

“You mean the special shortcake with a strawberries and cream layered filling? I can probably arrange that. Hold on.”

A couple of minutes later –

“It will be ready by noon. You can pick it up at your leisure in the afternoon.”

“Great, thanks a lot Samit .”

“My pleasure sir. Do send me your comments”

After explaining to his inquisitive parents that he was just talking to a new friend that he made recently about meeting tomorrow, Anjor buries himself in his laptop and types away furiously. There is another task that has to be completed.

The next day Anjor flies to Le’ Meridien at 3 and picks up the perfectly layered delicious looking cake. Almost everything is in place. He stops at a private printing facility.

“Kya chahiye” (What do you want)

“File print karni hai” (Need to print a file)

“Kaunsi” (Which one)

Anjor hands the printing tech a usb key.



It’s almost 4:30 as Anjor pulls into Preeti’s lane and squeezes his car in between the two that he recognizes as belonging to his friends. He is glad not to be the first one there.

He rings the doorbell with a covered package in one hand, and a backpack over his shoulder. He holds his breath at the click of the latch and the door opens. The radiant smile that greets him causes him to almost drop the dessert on which his plan hinges. But even then, he feels as though it might be worth dropping the package in order to gaze at that smile.

“Aren’t you going to come in, everyone is already here”

“Oh of … of course.”

“Let me take that for you.”

“Nn no…I’ll put it in the refrigerator myself, it is fragile and not to be opened till it’s time for dessert.”

“You are so stubborn!”

“Don’t come between a man and his dessert.”

They both laugh, but Anjor breathes a sigh of relief as he carefully places the package in the already overfull fridge.

A couple of hours, a couple of drinks, and a couple of laughs later, it’s time for dessert.

“Anjor won’t let anyone touch his dessert-baby.” teases Preeti

“Anjor, aan na” (just bring it) someone pipes up.

Anjor jumps up and brings out the now uncovered precious dessert. He is treading so carefully and purposefully that he swears for days to come that he was walking in slow motion. As he sets it on the table, it is very hard for him not to look proud – especially as he sees Preeti’s eyes light up. While everyone else chatters about what it is and how great it looks, Anjor manages to catch Preeti’s eye and they share a brief moment where both of them know exactly what is happening.

After devouring every last scrap, its finally time to leave. People start ambling out. Anjor purposefully hangs behind the crowd.

“Hh.hey Ppreeti…”

“Hey Anjor, thanks for coming, and thanks for an amazing dessert! That is by far the best dessert I’ve ever had.”

“Oh it was nothing. I have a confession to make though.”

“Oh Anjor, if this is about what we talked about the oth…”



“Hear me out. There is something I need your help with.”

“Th..his looks like you’ve written a …story.”

“It is. It’s almost finished.”

Anjor stands patiently as she flips through the pages. As she realizes what the story is, she hurriedly flips to the last page where she reads

And then he gave her the note.

“Wait a minute…you didn’t give me a no..oh.”

Preeti unfolds the note. It reads

“Dear Preeti,

Meeting you has been the highlight of my visits to Pune in recent years. I know you are in a tough situation so I’m letting you off easy. But next time I visit Pune, I will bring you strawberries with cream every day if that is what it takes. In the meantime, I can only leave this note as my promise.

-Anjor”

Preeti looks up from the note, and takes a deep breath.

“So what did you need my help with?”

“I don’t know how the story ends.”